What correction helps when the athlete receives the medicine ball too high in a clean?

• A. Hold the ball at the peak of the shrug and let the athlete practice the pull-under without moving the ball higher.
• B. Take athlete back to the teaching progression and have him or her practice the pull-under.
• C. Have him or her do two pull-unders for every one medicine-ball clean.
• D. Stand in front to block curling.

Answer: (A)

When the ball is received too high, the catch isn’t finishing the transition under the ball, which can throw you off balance and force the ball to ride high near the face or chest. The best correction is to hold the ball at the peak of the shrug and practice the pull-under without letting the ball rise higher. This stabilizes the timing and forces the athlete to drop under the ball, pulling the elbows under and catching in a proper front rack position. It trains the essential sequence: extend the hips and shoulders to crest the ball, then quickly pull under to receive, rather than chasing the ball upward. Other options don’t directly address the height issue as effectively; returning to the teaching progression and practicing the pull-under is helpful, but isolating the rise by pausing at the shrug creates a clear cue to drop under.